Football: Liverpool line up pounds 2m Dundee

Friday 22 May 1998 23:02 BST

Click to followThe Independent Online

ROY EVANS, the Liverpool manager, is closing in on the South African- born striker Sean Dundee in a pounds 2m deal.

Representatives of the Anfield club are in Germany attempting to tie up the transfer of the Karlsruhe player. Evans needs cover up front, with Robbie Fowler likely to be out until Christmas with his knee injury.

Dundee is on offer because Karlsruhe, after their relegation from the Bundesliga First Division, need to off-load their high-wage earners. After taking out German citizenship, the 25-year-old forced his way into their international squad, but injuries and a dip in form means he will not make Berti Vogts' final 22 for France 98.

Evans is expecting to recoup his outlay on Dundee by selling the Czech midfielder Patrik Berger to Roma for pounds 3.5m next week. Liverpool could also off-load Neil Ruddock to West Ham and are also willing to let Michael Thomas leave.

The Everton manager, Howard Kendall, has confirmed his interest in the Derby County midfielder Lee Carsley. The tough-tackling Republic of Ireland international is Kendall's latest target, after also admitting that Bolton's Alan Thompson is on his wanted list.

"Midfield is an area where I'm looking to strengthen and Carsley is a player I admire," Kendall said. "I have spoken to Derby manager Jim Smith."

Tottenham's former Italian international midfielder Nicola Berti has agreed a new one-year deal with the White Hart Lane club. The 30-year- old arrived in January on a free transfer from Internazionale.

Bristol City have signed the Gillingham striker Ade Akinbiyi for a club- record pounds 1.2m. The fee more than doubled the previous highest they had paid: pounds 500,000 for Andy Cole in 1992.

Akinbiyi, the former Norwich striker, scored 22 goals for the Gills in 1997-98, having joined the Kent club in January last year.

Kit Symons is on the brink of taking a 50 per cent pay cut to stay with relegated Manchester City. The 27-year-old defender, with his current contract at an end, was initially upset by City's offer of a new one-year deal that slashed his pounds 4,000-a-week wages in half, but in the absence of any better offers he looks likely to stay at Maine Road.

Sasa Ilic, Charlton Athletic's Yugoslav goalkeeper, will be watched by two members of Yugoslavia's coaching staff at the Nationwide League First Division play-off final against Sunderland on Monday. A good performance could earn him a late call up to the Yugoslav World Cup squad for this summer's finals.